Class Struggle in Athens, Sparta, and Rome

Class Struggle

Athens, Rome, and Sparta are cities in Ancient Greece that we hear the most about today. As each culture is different they all share the same problem, class struggle this could range from the poor wanting to be treated wealthy to city- states that have more power attacking other city-states in Greece and slaves wanting freedom. Athens, Sparta, and Rome all share the same problems of class struggle but deal with them in different ways

Athens deals with class struggle. For example the class struggle between elite and ordinary farmers. Much of Greece was agriculture and the income of farmers depended on their crops to grow and for them to sell them. When war broke out Athens often took ordinary citizens usually being farmers and putting them in the dead bodies place. This took them away from agriculture and take away the family’s money the way a ordinary citizen could become a high class citizen was to become a hoplite. These were not the poorest in Athens just needing enough wealth to supply armor gave a fast way to the top of society. Since the government thought this soldier was important it led the soldier to being able to be involved with the decision making process. As war arose Athens called on the ordinary citizens and the farmers to come and fight. This created a problem, he would leave his wife and his crop risking them dying and starve to death unless the war was to end in time, so that the crops could be harvested. In addition, some of the aristocracy became wealthier than before because an economy based on exchange of commodities was replaced by coinage. This lead to more problems in Athens struggle between ordinary citizens being farmers and elite farmers.

Sparta deals with class struggle. To understand the history of Sparta, one must first understand Sparta’s people and their social system. Sparta’s history is mostly based on the class struggle between the Helots and the Perioikoi, who were two of the three classes. The helots’ social...